TAMPA, Fla.  – The University of Tampa Spartans welcomed in the Nova Southeastern University Sharks into the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. The Spartans won the game in consecutive sets, improving their record to 8-6 and 4-2 in the SSC. The Sharks now drop to 8-5 and 1-4 in the SSC

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Spartans got on the board first, as Sorrel Houghton recorded a kill off an assist from Sammy Mueller. The Sharks were able to bounce back and score the next three points. With the Sharks holding a 13-11 lead, the Spartans went on a scoring run, scoring the next six points to take a 17-13. NSU was able to battle back and pull within one, at 19-18. Tampa would shut the comeback down, as they went on to score six of the next seven points, winning set one 25-19. Houghton led the way for Tampa in the opening set, as she recorded six kills and swung at a .455 hitting percentage. As a team, the UT defense held NSU to just a .111 hitting percentage in the opening set.

The second went in favor of the Spartans, as they won 25-22. They used a late rally, winning eight of the final 10 points to close out the set.

In the third set, the Spartans jumped out to an early 6-0 lead behind the serving of Mueller. The Sharks were able to settle down pulling within four at 8-4. The Spartans would then go on another run in the set pushing their lead to 21-9. The Spartans sealed the victory in set three, as an attack error by the Sharks gave the Spartans a 25-12 victory.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Sorrel Houghton led the way for Tampa, as the junior recorded a total of 15 kills and two blocks. She also swung at a .353 hitting percentage, which is her second highest of the season.
• Katie McKiel registered double digit kills again, as she finished with 12 on the night.
• Sammy Mueller led the Spartans with 15 assists and Melissa Elias was right behind her with nine.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Tampa improves their all-time series record against Nova Southeastern to 34-1.  
• The Spartans now have a three-game winning streak, winning each of those matches 3-0.
• Houghton has double-digits kill in four of the past five games.
• McKiel has double-digit kills in eight consecutive games.

UP NEXT

UT will return to action on Saturday, as they welcome in the Lynn University Fighting Knights. The game is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.

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